NoVo Foundation

NoVo Foundation is dedicated to catalyzing a transformation in global society, moving from a culture of domination to one of equality and partnership. We support the development of capacities in people – individually and collectively – to help create a caring and balanced world that operates on the principles of mutual respect, collaboration, and civic participation, thereby reversing the old paradigm predicated on hierarchy, violence, and the subordination of women and girls.

We place a strong emphasis on the advancement of women and girls. Around the world, women and girls often suffer from violence, poverty, and discrimination simply because they are female. While embodying many of the qualities we wish to promote, women and girls are also deeply under-represented and under-served throughout the world. Investment in women and girls has far reaching impact and delivers high returns for economic growth and broad social benefits to families and communities.

NoVo places high priority on educational approaches that foster a clear and compassionate view of the world. We strongly support the idea that learning is a lifelong process and that the best education nurtures self-understanding and an awareness of the interconnectedness of all things. From this perspective, accompanying our focus on women and girls is a commitment to supporting the education of men and boys so that their roles may also serve to move us toward a more just society.

We avoid top-down models for the improvement of societies, but devote ourselves instead to an earnest search for fresh ideas that show unusual promise for significant impact. We are willing to venture where others are reluctant to go; we remain patient in developing sustainable solutions; and we wish to convene diverse stakeholders to address common challenges. We seek out these ideas from both traditional and non-traditional sources – from academic research to conversations with grassroots organizers. We structure our grant making around initiatives, rather than by program areas. These initiatives are varied in form, but all reflect our commitment to building authentic partnerships with grantees and other funders, and to taking calculated risks.